Congresswoman pledges federal support through storm

Congresswoman Kathy Castor has attempted to assuage concerns that federal agencies lack the resources to help mitigate another disaster in St. Petersburg.

Castor pledged her support and advocacy at Mayor Ken Welch’s emergency briefing Tuesday afternoon. “There’s not been any time when a community was socked with double whammy like we are about to experience,” she said.

Hurricane Helene’s storm surge recently inundated the area. The storm also caused widespread devastation in North Carolina; whether or not the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has the resources needed to help mitigate Hurricane Milton’s effects has dominated discourse.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was also in the city Tuesday. Castor called it a “very important visit” and said Criswell assured Welch that “FEMA has the resources necessary to respond to this disaster.”

“This is the largest mobilization of FEMA personnel in recent history,” Castor added. “And they have repositioned supplies that are needed in the response phase. And recovery phase, as well.”

Local federal resources include water, meals and tarps. Castor said agencies have also deployed search and rescue teams to assist in life-threatening situations on land and water.

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg as seen from the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub’s rooftop.

The area fortunately boasts two U.S. Coast Guard bases – Sector St. Pete and the Clearwater Air Station. Castor said thousands of service members are poised to conduct search and rescue missions.

The city will need additional assistance. According to 7 a.m. forecasts, Milton is set to barrel into the mouth of Tampa Bay as a Category 4 storm with 130 mph sustained winds at roughly 2 a.m. Thursday.

“This is the triple threat that we have feared for decades and decades,” Castor said. “Because it involves storm surge, it involves flash flooding and it involves high winds.”

She noted that the National Hurricane Center has described Milton’s storm surge as “extremely life-threatening and its winds as “devastating.” The agency’s meteorologists also believe the already-saturated area will see flash flooding. Extended, widespread power outages are inevitable.

“This is the worst-case scenario that we’ve talked about for a long time,” Welch said. “That is the reality we’re facing right now, and after this is over, it’s going to change the way we plan. It’s going to change the way we look at infrastructure.”

State Rep. Lindsay Cross shared encouraging storm-related news on social media Tuesday afternoon. She said officials stored nearly six million gallons of fuel in the state to aid evacuations and recovery efforts.

Cross said county shelters can hold 20,000 people, and officials can double capacity. The governor has deployed over 8,000 National and State Guard members to the area.

“I appreciate the strong coordination with the federal, state and local governments to prepare as best as possible and protect Floridians,” Cross wrote.